"Daddy, I dont wanna go here," Kurt said as his father led him into his school. It was super early and super cold. Why was he here before the sun got up? "Mommy never made me get up this early!"

His father sighed and squatted down in front of him. They were just inside the front doors. The front lobby was dim and the first grade and kindergarten hallway beyond it was a dark hole.

"Bud, you remember your mommy is gone now, right?"

"Uh huh. Auntie Catherine said she went to Heaven, but that I cant go there," Kurt said sullenly. "But why cant I? If its a place then we should just get in the car and go after her."

"It doesnt work like that with Heaven," his father told him. "Look, its just you and me now, Kurt. I know its hard to understand, but thats how it is now. Okay?"

Kurt nodded, but let his tears fall anyway. He didnt want to sit in the dark, empty school for hours before everyone else got here.

"Youre gonna be here in the mornings before school when I work, and the same with the afternoons. Just like we talked about," his father reminded him. "Theres lots of other kids that get dropped off by their parents, too. Youll have lots of other boys and girls to play with. That Oscar kid that was at your birthday party goes to SAC. So does his older sister."

Oscar was a rude, dirty boy as far as Kurt was concerned. Hed only invited him because his mommy had said everyone in his class should be invited. But Kurt didnt like him. He tugged on Kurts ties and scuffed up his shiny shoes and called him a baby and a princess whenever he went and played with the girls.

"Hey, shh, no more tears," his father murmured as he pulled him into a tight hug. "Youre going to have all sorts of fun here. You know what? I bet you make a best friend before the week is over."

"Really?"

His father stood up and took his hand. "Yeah. Come on, bud. Lets go get you signed in."

They headed into the dim lobby and then to the left wall where one of the cafeteria doors was propped open. The lights were mostly on in here. Not like they were during lunch time, but it was bright enough to be considered lit. Kurt clung to his fathers leg as they stopped at one of the tables set up by the door. There was a big cardboard sign set up on it and then a sign-in sheet with half a dozen names already on it. His father scribbled theirs down as a young woman approached.

"You must be Burt Hummel."

His father shook hands with her and while they talked Kurt glanced past his fathers thigh to the eight tables set up by the stage. There was another adult – a large, black man with a shiny head – and a handful of children scattered around. Most of them were a lot older than Kurt. They were playing board games from what he could see and there was a small pile of boxes left at an empty table.

"Kurt? Im Miss Jenny. Are you ready to have some fun before breakfast?"

Kurt stared up at his father, who nudged him forward. "Go on. Ill be here to pick you up after school."

"After class?" Kurt asked fearfully. He didnt know if he could stand being here after class, too.

"Yeah, Ill meet you outside on the stairs. Same spot as always."

Miss Jennys smile was like looking directly at the sun. Kurt blinked to clear his eyes as she took his hand and showed him where he could put his backpack and bagged lunch. Then she led him towards the games and other kids.

"We like to set up board games for everyone in the mornings," she told him. "Its early, so we try to be calm and quiet. Do you want to play Sorry with Bridget and Terry?"

Kurt glanced where she was pointing and shook his head. Those were fifth graders. Theyd only bully him or call him a baby. He looked over the big pile of boxes and finally spotted one he liked.

"Operation?" Miss Jenny smiled widely. "Thats a fun one. Do you–"

There was a high screech from another table. A little boy, probably kindergarten, was in tears and waving his Monopoly dog around. Miss Jenny raced off to settle him and Kurt was left to pick a table for himself and the game. He took the empty one farthest away from the others and set the game up. Before long he was happily trying to pluck the funny bone out without zapping the poor Operation man.

"Oh, boy! You like Operation, too?"

Kurts head shot up as another boy hopped onto the bench across from him. He was smaller than himself with neatly parted, dark hair, pointy eyebrows, and a big purple bow tie around his neck.

"Nobody else ever wants to play Operation with me," the boy continued, getting up on his knees to lean over the game. "Oh, the funny bone! I hate that one. So does Dr. Doug Ross! Hes really pretty, too. Here, lemme try!"

Before Kurt could understand half of what the other boy had said, the tweezers were plucked from his hands. With his tongue poking out and his funny eyebrows lowered, the other boy made a grab for the funny bone.

Buzzzz!

"Dang it."

He sat back down and handed the tweezers back to Kurt. "I cant ever get that one. My names Blaine, by the way."

"Kurt."

"Its nice to meet you!" Blaine said, grinning over at him as Kurt concentrated on pulling the funny bone out. Hed just gotten it with the tweezers when a loud voice made him jump.

"Squirt! Blaine! Would you come over here? You forgot your lunch again!"

Blaine darted away with so much force the table rolled.

Buzzzzz!

"Sorry!" Blaine called over his shoulder. Kurt glowered after him and watched as he raced over to a teenage boy that must have been his brother. He passed Blaine a Ninja Turtle lunch box and then hurried out. Blaine flung it away where their bags and coats were and hurried back to Kurt. "Did you get it?"

"No," Kurt said sadly. He glared down at the little bone. "You made the table roll."

Blaine gave him a sheepishly look. "Sorry. I get excited about Operation sometimes. Are you new? I havent seen you here before."

"No, well, kinda," Kurt admitted. "I didnt go to SAC before, but I do now cause its just me and Daddy now."

"Oh, is your Daddy nice?"

"Uh huh, hes the best daddy in the world," Kurt explained. "Hes the best there ever was."

He expected an argument to follow, for Blaine to insist his own father was the greatest like the other boys always did. But he didnt. Instead he nodded and waved his hand over the funny bone slot.

"I bet you can get it this time. Ill even be extra quiet and still," Blaine said.

"Okay." Kurt steady his right hand with his left and slowly inched it down.

"Careful, careful," Blaine whispered, his hands half covering his eyes as the tweezers passed the metal frame. "Oh gosh, Kurt, be careful. Dont hurt Barney!"

"Barney?" Kurt repeated as he got a hold of the funny bone. "Who–"

"Barney," Blaine said as he jabbed a finger at the mans face on the board. "He gets really mad if you buzz him. His nose lights up and he makes that awful noise."

Kurt slowly retracted his hand as Blaine grimaced and winced and squirmed in terror. "Aha! I got it!"

"Oh, good job, Kurt." Miss Jenny was back with her radiant smile. "Are you boys ready for breakfast? Theres sausage and egg sandwiches today. I know those are your favorite, Blaine."

"Oh, boy! Come on, Kurt! We cant miss out!" Blaine leapt up, a pinball of energy shortly after dawn. He circled around and took Kurt by the hand. "You can sit next to me!"

As Blaine tugged him along towards the breakfast line, Kurt beamed. None of the other children ever wanted to sit with him, and they definitely never took him by the hand. Maybe his father was right about finding a best friend here.